Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni today attributed the team's loss against Sri Lanka in the ICC World T20 final to his batsmen's failure to convert the starts and the islanders' "brilliant" bowling at the death.
Aiming to become the first-ever team to win the tournament twice, India's quest ended in heartbreak as Sri Lanka produced a clinical display to win their maiden World T20 trophy with a convincing six-wicket victory, thus scripting a perfect send-off to legends Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.
"In the middle overs, our batsmen tried their best to get going, but we couldn't convert the good start. Virat (Kohli) was the only one who could score but it was a little difficult for him also initially," Dhoni said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
"We could have always got those 10-15 runs, but cricket is always about those extra runs."
India could manage just 19 runs in the last four overs and that did not help their cause, but it prompted Dhoni to praise the opposition bowlers, especially Sri Lanka skipper Lasith Malinga.
"The last four overs they executed their plans brilliantly and for our side that doesn't play scoops well, that worked for them. (Lasith) Malinga with that slingy action, side-on it gets difficult for the batsmen, he kept bowling it wide. He bowled the yorkers well. It was a perfect game for them."
Going through a purple patch, Kohli top-scored yet again with an aggressive 77 even as the others around him struggled to get going.
"Virat has been brilliant in the last few years. He is someone who makes most of the opportunity. The good thing is that he plays authentic shots and still scores runs. He is got a bright future ahead of them."
Asked why it is difficult to win the tournament twice, Dhoni said it has got to do with different conditions and the nature of the slam-bang format.
Dhoni said the Bangladesh Cricket Board arranged everything to perfection, adding that they love their cricket.
